Backscattering Mueller matrices of 10-100 μm atmospheric ice particles for interpretation of ground-based and space-born lidar data

The paper presents a solution to the problem of light scattering by hexagonal atmospheric plates and columns, as well as irregularly shaped particles with sizes from 10 to 100 microns. The solution is presented in the form of a databank of light backscattering matrices. The solution was obtained for typical wavelengths used in laser sensing problems: 0.355, 0.532, 1.064 μm; as well as for the wavelengths of the near infrared range: 1.55, 2 and 2.15 μm. At wavelengths of 0.532 and 1.064 μm, in addition to the refractive index of ice, the refractive index of the dust aerosol was used: 1.48+i•0.002 and 1.6+i•0.002, respectively. The solution was obtained within the framework of the physical optics method developed by the authors. Based on the calculated light backscattering matrices, the values of the color and linear depolarization ratios were obtained. It is shown that the power laws previously identified by the authors are violated in the presence of absorption, in particular, for hexagonal particles with sizes up to 100μm, with an imaginary part of the refractive index greater than i•0.0004, significant deviations from the power law are observed. For irregularly shaped particles at wavelengths for which there is no absorption, smooth power law dependences are seen.